By 'living Islam' I mean two things, really. Islam, as it is alive and well today; and secondly the second sense - that we should be living the Muslim life. God bless you, Ruqaiyyah.
Name
Khalid
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
I have a problem where I have been turned away from the masjid due the the distaste of some of the argumentation/fitnah of some brothers there. Could you please advise?
Answer
Dear Br Khalid, asalaam aleikum.
This is not an easy matter, nor, I am sad to say, is it a rare problem. I am surprised to hear that you were actually turned away from the mosque. Do you mean, perhaps, that you felt you could not worship there because of your own distaste for what you found, rather than that they turned you away? I guess so. Brother, believe me, I share your distaste. The problem is that none of us are perfect, and all of us are, I suppose, doing our best as we see it - the trouble is, it doesn't suit everybody. My advice would be twofold; firstly, you could simply seek out a different mosque that was more in keeping with your own attitudes. There are many many different types of 'atmospheres' in mosques. You could be very surprised at the differences you will find after a short search. Alternatively, you could persevere at the original mosque, but try to impose your own kind of atmosphere upon the brothers there by showing them a different way and attitude. Is that any help?
Name
Bilal
- United States
Profession
Question
Why do you think it is that we have gotten away from the two aspects of Islamic Knowledge and practicing that knowledge?
Answer
Dear Br Bilal, asalaam aleikum.
I wish I knew the answer to this one. I can only imagine it is because as Islam has spread, Muslims cannot speak Arabic well enough to read the hadiths properly, and learn the Prophet's (pbuh) sunnah. As I came into Islam, I met many Muslims whose ways seemed very anti-Muslim to me; on reading for myself, I realized they were well away from the way life was in Madinah. The worst thing seems to be a maddening desire to tell everyone else they are doing things wrong, and the loss is the compassion and tolerance and humility of the Prophet (pbuh). As for why they don't practice what I regard as true Islam, my dear brother - this is not an easy matter, really. Not everyone is cut out to be pious and devout; many people find the ways of Islam extremely hard to keep. We need to be reminded every so often of how much Allah loves us, and can not only see what we are doing but also knows what we are thinking. Nothing escapes Him, and if we have done wrong, it will be taken into account at Judgement. We also need to realize that He never hates the sinner, only the sin, and that if the sinner is genuinely sorry, there is no need to fear - Allah always forgives. God bless you, wasalaam, Ruqaiyyah.
Name
Ahmed
- United States
Profession
Question
In what ways do you think we Muslims of today are different in Living Islam compared to Prophet Muahmmad (SAAWS) and the sahabah(RA)?
Answer
Dear Br Ahmad, salaam aleikum.
This is a huge question - how long have I got? Seriously, it is all too easy to concentrate on things we do wrong, and it is probably more use to concentrate on serving Allah well, as well as we can. There are some matters that I find really annoying, though, and a real tragedy for Islam. I mean things like Muslims lying, cheating, stealing, using foul and offensive language, abusing those weaker than themselves (women, children, the aged), hurting others - especially their wives, drinking, gambling, exploiting their workforce, etc etc. To me, a Muslim should be trying his or her hardest to live as perfect a moral life as possible, plus the prayers and other disciplines Islam sets out. I cannot see a great deal of point in a Muslim praying five times each day if they lie and cheat and exploit. Can you? If they really believe Allah sees and knows all, this kind of behavior should be completely beneath them. They should not give up stealing because they are worried about having their hands cut off, but because they truly believe Allah sees what they do, and all their wrongdoings will have to be accounted for in the next life, even if they get away with it in this life. God bless, Ruqaiyyah.
Name
Alia
- United States
Profession
Question
From your experiences as being a revert, what formulas have worked for you in implementing various aspects of Islam, such as the five pillars, taqwa, khusoo; etc?
Answer
Dear Sr Alia, salaam aleikum.
I am not quite sure what you mean in your question. Could you phrase it differently for me, please. Formulas? What formulas? I also am not familiar with the word Khusoo, so perhaps you could explain that one for me too. Thanks, wasalaam, Ruqaiyyah.
Name
Amal
- United States
Profession
Question
Salam,
How can we live with Islam if our society isn't practicing properly?
Answer
Dear Amal, salaam aleikum.
I am not quite sure I understand what you mean by your question. I do not really see how my living with Islam and practising Islam is all that affected by my society??? I came from a very non-Muslim background, and I did not feel it got in my way once I had set my mind to practice Islam. Of course, it is difficult if you have no access to halal meat, but one can either choose a vegetarian diet, accept the teaching of Surah 5:6 that the meat of Jews and Christians is acceptable, and eat it; or make one's own prayer over the meat and trust that Allah will accept your good intention - especially since there is an ayah that says it is OK to eat such meat if nothing other is available. Of course, that's only one small aspect. My society has not interfered with my prayer practice, or my fasting, or my giving in charity, or my general attempt to live the best moral life I can, helping others, and generally trying to leave society in better condition than I found it. Is that what you mean? God bless, Ruqaiyyah.
